Songs for Catalina

Verse 1

Bare wood steps beneath your shoes Every footstep pays its dues Streamers waving, torn and bright Nobody planned this much delight

Chorus

Catalina, hear us shout This whole staircase knows your route Two names rhyme but none like you Catalina, through and through

Verse 2

You climb slow just to make it last Counting steps from present to past Every creak beneath your feet Sounds like something warm and sweet

Pre-chorus

Somebody's counting candles now Somebody's asking when, and how The room's gone quiet, waiting on you

Chorus

Catalina, hear us shout This whole staircase knows your route Two names rhyme but none like you Catalina, through and through

Bridge

We hung these streamers just for this One more year we can't afford to miss Whatever door you're walking through We're glad it opens onto you

Chorus

Catalina, hear us shout This whole staircase knows your route Two names rhyme but none like you Catalina, through and through

Outro

The steps still hold your sound We're glad you're the one we found

Verse 1

Oil on the concrete, black and slow Tires stacked up like they're waiting too Your old bike leaning on the wall Nothing moves right till it's next to you

Pre-chorus

Count the candles, strike the match Something's building, watch it catch Whole room's leaning toward the sound

Chorus

Catalina, light the fuse Nobody else could steal the room Every year you break the rules Catalina, here's to you

Verse 2

Grease under your fingernails still You fix things nobody else would try Spin the wheel and watch it spark You were built to catch the eye

Pre-chorus

Count the candles, strike the match Something's building, watch it catch Whole room's leaning toward the sound

Chorus

Catalina, light the fuse Nobody else could steal the room Every year you break the rules Catalina, here's to you

Bridge

Sing it loud so the whole street hears Sing it once for every year We're not quiet, we're not shy Not tonight, not with you here

Chorus

Catalina, light the fuse Nobody else could steal the room Every year you break the rules Catalina, here's to you

Outro

Oil still shines there on the ground Best thing that garage ever found

Verse 1

You climb up into the swinging seat Laughing loud as the ground falls away I love watching your feet leave the street You were made for a fairground kind of day

Pre-chorus

Yellow lights start to turn and blur Music rises, the dusk turns gold Something in me lifts up like a cheer

Chorus

Catalina, you spin through the night Everyone here is watching you shine We're all better under your light Catalina, this whole world is fine

Verse 2

You throw your arms out wide to the air Like you're catching every single star No one else could make grey feel so rare You turn small moments into somewhere far

Pre-chorus

Yellow lights start to turn and blur Music rises, the dusk turns gold Something in me lifts up like a cheer

Chorus

Catalina, you spin through the night Everyone here is watching you shine We're all better under your light Catalina, this whole world is fine

Bridge

Another year and still you glow Still the one who steals the show Whatever spins, wherever you land We're cheering loud, you understand

Chorus

Catalina, you spin through the night Everyone here is watching you shine We're all better under your light Catalina, this whole world is fine

Outro

Slow the ride now, let it come down You're still the brightest thing in town

Verse 1

Smoke curls up past two heavy coats Left there warm from your shoulders and mine We don't need much, just this and the cold And your hand finding mine on the line

Pre-chorus

I've said less than I meant to say Held it close like a coat in the cold But it's rising now, it won't stay

Chorus

Catalina, I mean every word You're the warmth that the smoke can't hide Nothing said has ever come close to this Catalina, stay here by my side

Verse 2

You laugh and the whole night softens Even the wool coats seem to lean in I've loved plenty of quiet moments But none have felt quite like this one

Pre-chorus

I've said less than I meant to say Held it close like a coat in the cold But it's rising now, it won't stay

Chorus

Catalina, I mean every word You're the warmth that the smoke can't hide Nothing said has ever come close to this Catalina, stay here by my side

Bridge

No grand words, no clever line Just you, still here, still mine

Chorus

Catalina, I mean every word You're the warmth that the smoke can't hide Nothing said has ever come close to this Catalina, stay here by my side

Outro

The coats will hang there long after Catalina, you're the warmth I keep

Verse 1

I left the work half done again Just to watch you standing in the rain Wet leaves stuck to the metal side But I was busy catching your eye

Pre-chorus

Nothing gets put away right Not when you're still here tonight Something in me won't let go

Chorus

Catalina, stay a while longer Every day with you makes me stronger I could leave the chores in the yard Loving you was never hard

Verse 2

Grass grew tall around the wheel I forgot the things I used to feel Then you came and everything slowed You're the only place I want to go

Pre-chorus

Nothing gets put away right Not when you're still here tonight Something in me won't let go

Chorus

Catalina, stay a while longer Every day with you makes me stronger I could leave the chores in the yard Loving you was never hard

Bridge

Let the rain come, let it pour I don't need the yard no more All I need is you right here Steady as this feeling, year to year

Chorus

Catalina, stay a while longer Every day with you makes me stronger I could leave the chores in the yard Loving you was never hard

Outro

The wheelbarrow can rust in the rain You're the only thing I keep the same

Verse 1

Rows of blue chairs, half of them empty You sat close enough our knees touched Nobody else in that whole building mattered I kept still so you'd stay resting

Chorus

Catalina, the light was ugly and cold Catalina, but your hand was all I could hold Nothing in that room was worth keeping Except you, and the way I was told

Verse 2

The floor threw back that white glow twice You laughed at something small and dumb I forgot why we were even sitting there Just glad it was you I came with

Pre-chorus

I've loved you in better rooms than this I've loved you dressed up and undone But something in this bare, hard light

Chorus

Catalina, the light was ugly and cold Catalina, but your hand was all I could hold Nothing in that room was worth keeping Except you, and the way I was told

Bridge

Strip it all back, take the colour away You're still the one thing I'd choose Give me the hum and the plastic chairs As long as I get to keep you

Chorus

Catalina, the light was ugly and cold Catalina, but your hand was all I could hold Nothing in that room was worth keeping Except you, and the way I was told

Outro

Somewhere there's still a row of blue chairs And you, still the best thing I've found there

Verse 1

Somebody has brought the little boat in for the night Laid the oars down soft against the boards so they rest tight Ripples touch the timber slow and then let go You are held the same way, gentle, warm and low

Pre-chorus

Every sound out on the water has grown hushed and slow Even the current by the harbour walks on tiptoe now So close your eyes and drift where the quiet wants to go

Chorus

Sleep now, sleep now, Catalina, safe and warm Nothing here can find you, nothing brings you harm Catalina, you are held the whole night through Every gentle thing that's near tonight belongs to you

Verse 2

Somewhere green planks hold the damp of a day that's finally done You don't need to know the distance that the little boat has run All that matters is you're here now, wrapped and warm and still Sleep will come to carry you exactly where it will

Chorus

Sleep now, sleep now, Catalina, safe and warm Nothing here can find you, nothing brings you harm Catalina, you are held the whole night through Every gentle thing that's near tonight belongs to you

Bridge

Let the water settle, let the last light fall away You were loved before this evening, you'll be loved another day

Chorus

Sleep now, sleep now, Catalina, safe and warm Nothing here can find you, nothing brings you harm Catalina, you are held the whole night through Every gentle thing that's near tonight belongs to you

Outro

Rest now like the oars against the damp green wood Still and safe and certain, held the way you should

Verse 1

The water runs warm while the bubbles rise slow and soft Each one holds the light for a moment before it is gone You watch them go quiet with your small hands raised aloft Little breaths of steam settling gently as the day moves on

Pre-chorus

Every bubble that fades leaves a little more room for rest Your eyes growing heavy, your breathing beginning to slow Let the warmth carry you home to the ones who love you best

Chorus

Catalina, the night is holding you soft and near Nothing can touch you while the quiet keeps you safe Sleep now, Catalina, there is nothing here to fear Every star tonight is watching over your small face

Verse 2

The steam curls upward like a story with no end You are wrapped in warmth, you are wrapped in gentle light Nothing in this room but comfort round every bend You are loved beyond the edges of this quiet night

Bridge

Let the small sounds fade, let the water still and settle No need to hold on, you are held already, love

Chorus

Catalina, the night is holding you soft and near Nothing can touch you while the quiet keeps you safe Sleep now, Catalina, there is nothing here to fear Every star tonight is watching over your small face

Outro

The last bubble fades soft as the water finally stills You are safe now, Catalina, and always will be

Verse 1

Heavy dew is falling soft on the dark tomato leaves tonight It gathers slow and settles down onto the black and waiting soil The garden holds its breath beneath the fading porch light This is how I hold you now, wrapped up against the world's turmoil

Pre-chorus

Every drop that falls tonight was gathered up so gently Nothing in this quiet house will ever come to harm you Close your eyes, the dark is only something soft to carry

Chorus

Catalina, sleep is coming like the dew upon the vine Somewhere soft and slow and certain, settling in its time Nothing hurries where you're lying, nothing needs to shine You are held here, Catalina, and every hour is fine

Verse 2

The soil grows dark and rich beneath the weight of falling water Nothing forces it to open, it just gathers what it's given So I will not rush this moment, will not hurry what should matter I will watch you settle downward like the peace that you are living

Chorus

Catalina, sleep is coming like the dew upon the vine Somewhere soft and slow and certain, settling in its time Nothing hurries where you're lying, nothing needs to shine You are held here, Catalina, and every hour is fine

Bridge

No storm comes tonight to trouble the leaves or bend the stem You are safe as roots in darkness, safe as any breath drawn deep

Chorus

Catalina, sleep is coming like the dew upon the vine Somewhere soft and slow and certain, settling in its time Nothing hurries where you're lying, nothing needs to shine You are held here, Catalina, and every hour is fine

Outro

The dew will still be falling long after you have gone to sleep Quiet as the love that watches over you, and yours to keep